Donald Dowd passed away over the weekend. He leaves behind decades of work and friendship with the entire Kennedy clan.

We spoke to Donald Dowd the day his friend Senator Ted Kennedy passed away from brain cancer back in August. He let us inside his West Springfield home, showing us the endless pictures he had taken with the Kennedy clan over the years.

Dowd had worked closely with the Kennedy's for nearly 50 years, starting off as an adviser to Robert Kennedy's campaign for the presidency. Many who knew Dowd say our state has lost a legend. "This is a passing of an era, Dowd was the last known link from our area with the Kennedy's, " says Congressman Richard Neal.

Dowd, who was known as Ted Kennedy's right hand man, made trips with the late senator and his family during their trips here to Western Mass.

Mayor Domenic Sarno says he was a quiet man who cared about the people. "He was the the behind the scenes guy, and such a great friend of the Kennedy family, " says Mayor Sarno.

The mayor spoke with Dowd last week from his hospital room. "We had a nice conversation, and he said once he felt better he would be back out on his feet, " recalls Mayor Sarno.

Dowd's passing comes just a week after our state elected a republican into the late Ted Kennedy's senate seat, which he held for almost 50 years. Many say Dowd knew his job was done. "He was very soft spoken yet, when you spoke to him you knew that your were speaking to Senator Kennedy, " adds Neal.